An amusing argument has been carried on by the scientists over the question: Is the fetus a true parasite in its relation to the mother, or does it develop in harmonious symbiosis giving some compensatory physiologic benefit to the mother? Both sides and the middle have been ably defended, but the truth seems to be that the fetus can be parasitic or symbiotic, depending on conditions.

For example, it has been shown that there is a reciprocity between the internal secretions of the mother and fetus. In diabetes in the mother, the pancreas of the fetus is able to compensate for her own lack of pancreatin.

The pancreatic glands were removed from a group of dogs and they all promptly died of diabetes except one slut. She was pregnant and manifested no signs of diabetes until the birth of her whelps, whereupon she also promptly died of diabetes. The pancreatic glands of her embryo pups supplied the needed pancreatic hormone to her body so long as they were within the womb. When their connections with the mother were severed, she could no longer draw upon them for this hormone and, so developed diabetes and died. This is a remarkable example of the harmonious symbiosis that exists between mother and fetus.

Dr. Feldman says that "during asphyxia of the mother, the fetus sends oxygen to the maternal blood." The amounts of both nitrogen and phosphorus retained by the pregnant woman is greater than during her non-pregnant state. The same is true of iron and sulphur and perhaps of all elements of the body. It is the rule that a woman's nutrition is improved during pregnancy and it is not uncommon for her ailments to disappear during this period. Investigators claim to have demonstrated the existence of placental antibodies in the mother's blood. Antibodies are supposed to increase the resistance to germs and toxins.